DPRK slams US-ROK drills as 'extremely reckless'

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The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday slammed the large-scale joint aerial drills between the US and the Republic of Korea (ROK) as "extremely reckless."

The annual military drills, called Vigilant Ace, are taking place one week after the DPRK said it had tested its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile ever.

DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Washington and Seoul are "hell-bent on the exercises simulating an all-out war against the DPRK, including drills to strike the state leadership and nuclear and ballistic rocket bases, air fields, naval bases and other major objects of the DPRK and its command posts of front line units, armored equipment and personnel and long-range artillery units."

"Owing to the US imperialist warmongers' extremely reckless war hysteria, a grave situation is prevailing in the Korean Peninsula that a nuclear war may break out any moment," it added.

The ROK's K-55 self-propelled artillery vehicles take part in a military exercise near the demilitarized zone in Paju, ROK, November 29, 2017. /Reuters Photo

The five-day drill – involving 230 aircraft, including F-22 Raptor stealth jet fighters, and tens of thousands of troops – began Monday morning.

Pyongyang said it successfully tested a Hwasong-15 ICBM last Wednesday, claiming that the new type of missile is "capable of striking the whole mainland of the US."

China has repeatedly expressed opposition to DPRK's missile launches, and called on all parties to refrain from provocative action that could jeopardize regional peace and stability.

China has long worked towards the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and repeatedly called on the resumption of dialogue.

Beijing has implemented relevant Security Council resolutions and delivered on its obligations, but opposes unilateral sanctions outside the ambit of the UN, said the Chinese Foreign Ministry after Pyongyang's latest missile test.